Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine最新文献

{"title":"Short-term outpatient follow-up of vericiguat treatment in patients hospitalized for heart failure.","authors":"Zihan Li, Tingting Li, Tingxun Liu, Yuanqiao Liu, Daoyuan Si, Yuquan He, Ping Yang","doi":"10.3389/fcvm.2025.1465700","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fcvm.2025.1465700","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Vericiguat-a novel oral soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator-was developed for the treatment of chronic heart failure (HF). Although the value of vericiguat therapy in chronic HF has been gradually recognized, its safety and efficacy in the acute phase of HF remain elusive.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>100 patients with acute HF receiving vericiguat therapy at the China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University between September 2022 and June 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. An external control was built from real-world data of acute HF subjects contemporaneously hospitalized in the same hospital using a propensity score matching (PSM) method.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>After a median follow-up of 68 days, 80 patients completed at least one outpatient follow-up or had an endpoint event and cardiovascular death occurred in 6 patients. We matched 75 external control patients for this purpose. In single-arm study, overall, although systolic blood pressure (SBP) decreased significantly before and after treatment, there was little change in SBP in the SBP low group (baseline SBP less than 120mmHg) (from 109 mmHg to 105 mmHg, <i>p</i> = 0.109). Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and serum potassium did not change significantly (<i>p</i> = 0.521 and 0.070, respectively). However, compared with the renal function normal group, eGFR showed a slower downward trend in the renal insufficiency group (<i>p</i> = 0.025). After using the PSM method, significant improvements in left ventricular ejection fraction and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide were seen in both groups before and after treatment. There was no significant difference between the two groups. However, the downward trend in eGFR was even less significant in the vericiguat group, with significant differences between the two groups (<i>p</i> = 0.024).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Vericiguat is feasible in acute HF, even in patients with hypotension and renal dysfunction. At the same time, vericiguat may have a potential renoprotective effect, which warrants further exploration.</p>","PeriodicalId":12414,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine","volume":"12 ","pages":"1465700"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11913851/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143656668","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Interpreting clinical outcomes using different strut thickness in coronary artery disease: insights from vascular imaging analysis.","authors":"Ju-Seung Kwun, Jin Joo Park, Si-Hyuck Kang, Sun-Hwa Kim, Chang-Hwan Yoon, Jung-Won Suh, Tae-Jin Youn, Kwang Soo Cha, Seung-Hwan Lee, Bum-Kee Hong, Seung-Woon Rha, Woong Chol Kang, In-Ho Chae","doi":"10.3389/fcvm.2025.1491607","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fcvm.2025.1491607","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Coronary artery disease is a global health concern that necessitates treatments, such as percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stents (DES). Recent advancements in biodegradable polymer-coated DES have improved long-term outcomes by reducing neointimal hyperplasia. Superior long-term outcomes in patients with ultrathin-strut sirolimus-eluting Orsiro stent (BP-SES) compared with those with thick-strut biolimus-eluting BioMatrix stent (BP-BES) have been shown. This study aimed to explore the mechanisms underlying these differences by using quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This sub-analysis of the BIODEGRADE trial, a prospective, randomized, multi-center study, compared BP-SES and BP-BES in patients who underwent PCI between July 2014 and September 2017. Patients with positive stress test results, ischemic symptoms, or those who consented to routine follow-up angiography were included. QCA and OCT were used to evaluate the lumen diameter, cross-sectional areas and stent apposition or coverage. OCT images were analyzed at 1 mm intervals within 5 mm proximal and distal to the stented segment.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 2,341 patients, 689 underwent follow-up angiography between 18- and 36-months post-PCI, and 929 stents were analyzed via QCA. OCT images of 61 participants were available. The BP-SES group exhibited a significantly larger minimal lumen diameter and reduced late lumen loss compared to the BP-BES group (0.34 ± 0.45 mm vs. 0.42 ± 0.44 mm, <i>P</i> = 0.005). OCT analysis showed significantly less neointimal hyperplasia in the BP-SES group (0.04 ± 0.4 mm² vs. 0.64 ± 0.54 mm², <i>P</i> < 0.001), with no significant differences in stent strut coverage or inflammation markers, than in the BP-BES group.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>QCA and OCT analyses revealed less neointimal growth with BP-SES than with BP-BES, without delayed healing or increased inflammation. These findings underscore the importance of stent design characteristics and suggest that thinner struts may enhance clinical success by reducing restenosis and improving long-term vessel patency.</p><p><strong>Clinical trial registration: </strong>https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02299011 (NCT02299011).</p>","PeriodicalId":12414,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine","volume":"12 ","pages":"1491607"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11913801/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143656627","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Case Report: Two highly unusual adrenal tumors presenting with hypertension: a giant cystic pheochromocytoma with an ipsilateral large renal parapelvic cyst and a giant adrenal myelolipoma.","authors":"Ali Hakan Konuş, Kader Uğur, Erhan Aygen, Cihat Tektaş, Fatih Durumlu, Muhammet Çalık","doi":"10.3389/fcvm.2025.1541880","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fcvm.2025.1541880","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Giant cystic pheochromocytoma and giant adrenal myelolipoma are two highly uncommon masses. There are difficulties in diagnosis and management of both types of giant (>20 cm) adrenal tumors.</p><p><strong>Case 1: </strong>A 56-year-old male patient applied with complaints of headache and high blood pressure. A mass was palpated in the left upper quadrant. The average 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure was 146/93 mm Hg. Computed tomography revealed a huge left adrenal cystic mass measuring 22 × 17 cm. A large left renal parapelvic cyst measuring 6 × 5.5 cm was also observed. Urine metanephrine and normetanephrine values were high. The patient was diagnosed with pheochromocytoma. It was decided to remove the adrenal cystic mass and renal parapelvic cyst with open surgery. Severe hypotension occurred during the intraoperative and early postoperative periods, and severe orthostatic dizziness occurred during the in-hospital stay and two months of outpatient follow-up. The patient's urine metanephrine and normetanephrine levels returned to normal. The average 24 h ambulatory blood pressure was 122/69 at six months.</p><p><strong>Case 2: </strong>A 53-year-old male patient was admitted with complaints of high blood pressure, accompanied by mild headache and dizziness that had been ongoing for several months. A mass was palpated in the right upper quadrant. The average 24 h ambulatory blood pressure was 151/91 mm Hg. Abdominal computed tomography revealed a 24 × 16 × 22 cm solid mass with diffuse fat density originating from the right adrenal gland. Laboratory studies and endocrine investigations were normal. With the diagnosis of adrenal myelolipoma, a mass weighing 4,229 g was surgically removed. The patient was normotensive without medical treatment during the two-year follow-up after the operation.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>To our knowledge, our case of giant cystic pheochromocytoma accompanied by ipsilateral large renal parapelvic cyst, which is the first in the literature, reports the management of severe hypotension in the perioperative period and severe orthostatic dizziness in the two-month follow-up. Non-functional adrenal myelolipomas can cause hypertension with mass effect. Our second case is one of the largest adrenal myelolipomas in literature. Although surgical removal of giant masses is difficult, successful surgeries have resulted in resolution of hypertension in our cases at mid-term follow-up.</p>","PeriodicalId":12414,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine","volume":"12 ","pages":"1541880"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11914132/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143656576","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Examining the use of a continuous marker of metabolic syndrome severity for detecting resting autonomic dysfunction in a multiracial sample of young adults.","authors":"Ta'Quoris A Newsome, Austin J Graybeal, Ryan S Aultman, Anabelle Vallecillo-Bustos, Caleb F Brandner, Sydney H Swafford, Abby T Compton, Sarah Parnell, Rhett C Schimpf, Tanner Thorsen, Megan E Renna, Jon Stavres","doi":"10.3389/fcvm.2025.1508805","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fcvm.2025.1508805","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims: </strong>To determine if a continuous marker of metabolic syndrome (MetS) severity (MetS_index) could identify early-onset autonomic dysfunction in young adults at an elevated risk (ER) of MetS.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Blood biomarkers and anthropometrics were collected from 178 individuals. Cardiovagal baroreflex sensitivity (cBRS) and heart rate variability (HRV) were evaluated during 10-min of rest. Linear regressions examined the associations between the MetS-_index and cBRS, as well as select indices of HRV. These variables were also compared between individuals meeting the criteria for MetS (MetS group), individuals not meeting the criteria for MetS but having a positive MetS_index (ER), and healthy controls (Con) matched for sex, race, and ethnicity (<i>n</i> = 20 per group).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>All indices of cBRS (all <i>p</i> ≤ 0.007) and the standard deviation of normal-to-normal r-r intervals (SDNN; <i>p</i> = 0.001) were attenuated in the MetS group compared to the Con group. However, no differences were observed between the Con and ER groups (<i>p</i> ≥ 0.395). The MetS_index did demonstrate a significant, albeit small (R² ≤ 0.038, <i>β</i>≤ -0.168, <i>p</i> ≤ 0.028) association with all indices of cBRS and SDNN.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The MetS_index is associated with indices of cBRS and HRV, but is not currently able to detect early-onset autonomic dysfunction in young adults with an elevated risk of MetS.</p>","PeriodicalId":12414,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine","volume":"12 ","pages":"1508805"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11914111/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143656626","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Systemic inflammation prevalence in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease: a population-based study using a nationwide primary care database in Spain.","authors":"Giancarlo Pesce, Gaelle Gusto, Pierre Johansen, Artak Khachatryan, Bernabe Lopez-Ledesma, Jelena Vukmirica, Aleix Cases","doi":"10.3389/fcvm.2025.1538466","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fcvm.2025.1538466","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Systemic inflammation is recognised as a critical driver of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), especially in patients with comorbid chronic kidney disease (CKD). This study aims to assess the prevalence of systemic inflammation in the ASCVD population in Spain.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Outpatient electronic medical records from The Health Improvement Network (THIN®) database were used to identify patients with ASCVD and a C-reactive protein (CRP) measurement ≥1 between January 2014 and July 2023 in Spain. The proportion of patients with systemic inflammation (defined as CRP ≥ 2 mg/L) was estimated at the first CRP measurement (index date) and at the end of the study. The patients' characteristics, comorbidities, and drug dispensation in the prior 12 months were reported by systemic inflammation status at the index date.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Overall, 15,798 patients with ASCVD were included in the study (mean age: 71.1 years; 57% men), of whom 34% had CKD. The proportion of patients with systemic inflammation at the index date was 58% (65% among CKD patients) and 56% (62% among CKD patients) at the end of the study. Patients with systemic inflammation were more frequently smokers, obese, with comorbidities, and had higher low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides levels than patients without systemic inflammation. Overall, patients with ASCVD and systemic inflammation used statins and aspirin less frequently compared to patients without systemic inflammation, while they used antibiotics, anticoagulants, and antihypertensives more frequently.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Systemic inflammation prevalence is high among patients with ASCVD in Spain, especially among patients with comorbid CKD. Therapeutic strategies focused on targeting systemic inflammation may have beneficial effects in reducing the burden of ASCVD.</p>","PeriodicalId":12414,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine","volume":"12 ","pages":"1538466"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11913838/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143656671","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The association between blood urea nitrogen to serum albumin ratio and 28 day in-hospital mortality in patients with chronic heart failure and sepsis: a pilot retrospective study.","authors":"Ali Ma, Chen Zhang, Ying Gong, Xueping Ma, Ning Yan","doi":"10.3389/fcvm.2025.1491331","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fcvm.2025.1491331","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims: </strong>The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between blood urea nitrogen to serum albumin ratio and 28-day in-hospital mortality in patients with chronic heart failure complicated by sepsis admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This retrospective study included 723 patients with chronic heart failure complicated by sepsis from the eICU database. Smooth curve fitting assessed the association between BAR and mortality. Multivariable Cox regression analysis was conducted to calculate the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Kaplan-Meier curves compared survival rates across BAR tertile<i>s</i>. Subgroup analysis was stratified based on relevant covariates and a forest plot was drawn to verify the stability of the results.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 723 chronic heart failure patients with sepsis, the 28-day mortality rate was 20.33% (147/723). After adjusting for confounders, with BAR as a categorical variable, patients in the highest tertile of BAR had a significantly higher death risk than those in the lowest tertile [HR: 1.87, 95% CI (1.09,3.19), <i>p</i>: 0.023]. When BAR was a continuous variable, each unit increase in BAR raised in-hospital mortality by 2% [HR: 1.02, 95% CI (1.01, 1.04), <i>p</i> = 0.0038]. Stratified analysis showed no interaction, and E-value analysis indicated robustness to unmeasured confounding, highlighting the stable and significant relationship between BAR and 28-day mortality in these patients.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In the context of critically ill patients with chronic heart failure complicated by sepsis, there exists a significant correlation between blood urea nitrogen to serum albumin ratio (BAR) and 28-day mortality. Specifically, higher BAR levels are associated with an elevated risk of 28-day mortality in these patients. However, these findings require further research for confirmation.</p>","PeriodicalId":12414,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine","volume":"12 ","pages":"1491331"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11914131/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143656674","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The chain mediating role of social support and yielding coping style between health literacy and symptom burden in patients with chronic heart failure.","authors":"Jing Yan, Long Zhou, Guangyu Song, Yangyang Yuan","doi":"10.3389/fcvm.2025.1518175","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fcvm.2025.1518175","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To explore the mediating effects of social support and coping style on health literacy and symptom burden in patients with chronic heart failure.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 200 patients with chronic heart failure in Grade 3A Hospitals in Jiangsu province of China were investigated by using General Data Questionnaire, Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale for Heart Failure, Chinese Version of Heart Failure Specific Health Literacy Scale, Perceived Social Support Scale, and Medical Coping Modes Questionnaire.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Symptom burden score of patients with chronic heart failure was (0.73 ± 0.45), health literacy score was (29.38 ± 9.76), social support score was (59.15 ± 10.58), and yielding coping style score was (9.18 ± 4.13). There were significant correlations among health literacy, social support, coping style and symptom burden in patients with chronic heart failure. The results of mediating effect analysis showed that health literacy of patients with chronic heart failure could influence symptom burden through the chain mediating effect of social support-yielding coping style. The effect size was -0.008, and the 95% confidence interval did not include 0 (-0.011, -0.006).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The health literacy of patients with chronic heart failure has an indirect impact on the burden of symptoms through social support and yielding coping style, suggesting that medical staff should take social support and coping style as a breakthrough from the perspective of health literacy of patients with chronic heart failure, so as to achieve the purpose of improving the health literacy of patients with chronic heart failure and reducing the burden of symptoms.</p>","PeriodicalId":12414,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine","volume":"12 ","pages":"1518175"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11913823/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143656678","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Predicting mortality in heart failure: BUN/creatinine ratio in MIMIC-III.","authors":"Changsen Zhu, Liyan Wu, Yiyi Xu, Qian Zhang, Wenbo Liu, Yuxiang Zhao, Jun Lyu, Zhuoming Chen","doi":"10.3389/fcvm.2025.1510317","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fcvm.2025.1510317","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims: </strong>Heart failure is a critical health issue with high mortality rates. The blood urea nitrogen/creatinine ratio (BCR) has proven more effective at predicting outcomes in heart failure patients than individual assessments of each marker. Nevertheless, the implications of varying BCR levels for outcomes among heart failure patients remain to be fully understood. This study explores the impact of BCR on the outcomes of these patients.</p><p><strong>Methods and results: </strong>Employing a retrospective cohort design at a single center, this study examined 1,475 heart failure patients from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC-III) database, categorized into four quartiles based on their BCR levels. We analyzed survival outcomes using Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards models, supplemented by restricted cubic splines to elucidate detailed associations. The average age of the patients was 69.52 years, with males constituting 55.6% of the cohort. As BCR values escalated, the average hospital stay increased from 9.64 to 14.15 days, and average survival decreased from 685.11 to 412.68 days. Patients in the highest BCR quartile faced the most severe mortality rates, with 18.8% in-hospital and 78.3% long-term mortality. Nonlinear regression revealed a U-shaped relationship between BCR and mortality: at BCR levels below 12.5, there was no significant correlation with long-term mortality; between 12.5 and 22, BCR appeared to exert a protective effect; and above 22, it emerged as a significant risk factor.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Admission BCR values are non-linearly associated with mortality in heart failure patients, suggesting its utility as a prognostic tool in critical care.</p>","PeriodicalId":12414,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine","volume":"12 ","pages":"1510317"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11913865/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143656666","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Obese patients exhibit a greater enhancement in mental health-related quality of life compared to non-obese patients following thoracoscopic ablation of atrial fibrillation.","authors":"Eva R Meulendijks, Manouck J M Roelofs, Tim A C de Vries, Robin Wesselink, Rushd F M Al-Shama, Wim-Jan P van Boven, Antoine H G Driessen, Wouter R Berger, Jonas S S G de Jong, Joris R de Groot","doi":"10.3389/fcvm.2025.1433790","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fcvm.2025.1433790","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Obesity is an important risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF) development and progression. Furthermore, obesity reduces health-related quality of life (HRQoL), an essential indicator for treatment efficacy of AF ablation. Nevertheless, the extent to which obesity influences changes in HRQoL and the recurrence of AF following ablation, especially thoracoscopic AF ablation, remains largely unexplored.</p><p><strong>Aims: </strong>We assessed in obese vs. non-obese patients undergoing thoracoscopic AF ablation: (1) HRQoL upon ablation, (2) AF recurrence incidence, (3) the association between recurrence incidence and HRQoL.</p><p><strong>Methods & results: </strong>408 prospectively enrolled patients were included for analysis. Heart rhythm was systematically monitored during follow-up. AF recurrence was defined as any atrial tachyarrhythmia episode > 30 s. HRQoL and recurrence incidence were assessed for normal weight (BMI ≤ 24.9 kg/m²), overweight (25.0-29.9 kg/m²) and obese (≥30.0 kg/m²) patients. HRQoL was assessed at baseline and 1-year follow-up. Obese patients scored lower in pre-operative HRQoL across 6/8 subscales vs. non-obese patients (<i>p</i> < 0.01-0.05). While HRQoL increased in all patients, obese patients showed a trend towards an even greater improvement of mental HRQoL (<i>p</i> = 0.07) vs. non- obese patients. In obesity, mental HRQoL increased similarly for those with and without AF recurrence (<i>p</i> = 0.78), whereas in non-obese patients, AF recurrence was associated with less improved mental HRQoL (<i>p</i> = 0.03). AF recurrence at 1-year was similar between all weight groups (72.4%, 68.0%, 70.4%, <i>p</i> = 0.69).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>After thoracoscopic ablation, obese patients experience a comparable incidence of AF recurrence as non-obese patients. Interestingly, obese patients also exhibit a more significant enhancement in mental quality of life, regardless of whether AF recurs or not.</p>","PeriodicalId":12414,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine","volume":"12 ","pages":"1433790"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11914143/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143656633","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Metagenomic next-generation sequencing identifies native valve Aspergillus fumigatus endocarditis with cerebral involvement: a case report.","authors":"Weibing Wu, Jingjing Xu, Jianling Ruan, Baoping Tian, Nanxia Xuan","doi":"10.3389/fcvm.2025.1487543","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fcvm.2025.1487543","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Aspergillus endocarditis is a rare but highly fatal condition, particularly in immunocompromised patients. This case report describes a 74-year-old male with native valve Aspergillus fumigatus endocarditis and intracranial infection. Diagnosis was complicated by atypical presentation and negative blood cultures, but metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) enabled rapid identification of the pathogen. This case is notable for being the first to document Aspergillus fumigatus endocarditis with cerebral involvement confirmed by mNGS, highlighting the importance of early diagnosis and advanced diagnostic tools in improving outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":12414,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine","volume":"12 ","pages":"1487543"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11914112/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143656629","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}